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KING OLIVER ‘OH PLAY THAT THING!’ Original 1923 Recordings with Louis Armstrong NAXOS JAZZ LEGENDS – 8.120666

 

1	Just Gone	11	High Society Rag
2	Canal Street Blues	12	Where Did You Stay Last Night
3	Mandy Lee Blues	13	Jazzin’ Babies Blues
4	I’m Going Away To Wear You Off My Mind	14	Alligator Hop
5	Chimes Blues	15	Krooked Blues
6	Weather Bird Rag	16	Buddy’s Habit
7	Dipper Mouth Blues	17	Tears
8	Froggie Moore	18	Room Rent Blues
9	Snake Rag	19	Riverside Blues
10	Sweet Lovin’ Man	20	I Ain’t Gonna Tell Nobody

 

 

At the time these tracks were first recorded in 1923 Joe ‘King’ Oliver was leading ‘by far the most significant and stirring jazz group to appear on record up to that point’. The core of musicians are Joe Oliver, Louis Armstrong, Honore Dutrey, Johnny Dodds, Lil Hardin and Baby Dodds. Bill Johnson, Bud Scott and Johnny St. Cyr all appear on banjo at some time or other as do Stump Evans on ‘C’ melody sax and Charlie Jackson on bass sax and tuba.

‘Oh Play That Thing!’ includes what are considered by some ‘purists’ to be the finest jazz recordings ever made. Oliver was a musician of immense capability and his music was ‘hot’ to say the least. Louis Armstrong idolized him and when Oliver heard of Armstrong’s exceptional talent he invited the young musician to join him on second cornet – they became the nucleus of a monumental band. The harmony between the two cornet players was unique as were their ‘four bar breaks’.

Sadly, the group was only together for a few months, however, this compilation provides many examples of King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band at its very best.

Jack Ashby

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